The growing popularity of pickleball has netted a split in Ship Bottom, where a new recreation fee prompted a request for the improvement of existing courts and a reminder that officials promised the John J. Guld Recreation Park would not grow into a nuisance for neighbors.

Borough officials heard from the two sides at its monthly meeting May 24 prior to unanimously adopting Ordinance 2022-05, which requires all pickleball and tennis players to purchase an access badge on an annual, weekly or…